Pedal-chair.



J. G. LINDE.

PEDAL CHAIR.

APPLIUKTION IILED JAN.17,1914.

Patented June 9, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C0..\VASHINGTON. u c.

J. G. LINDE.

PEDAL CHAIR.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.17, 1914.

099 455 v Patented June 9,1914,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES y INVENTOR I; v $1 QCQQIAQIQ 1 1 I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. WC.

JOSE GARCIA LINDE, OF LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

PEDAL-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1914.

Patented June 9, 1914:. Serial No. 812,637.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Jose GARCIA Linen, a subject of His Majesty the King of Spain, a resident of Luzon, Philippine Islands, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to manually propolled vehicles commonly known as pedal chairs, the chair when in use being propolled by a person riding the same and having a separate seat for a passenger.

The object of my invention is to provide a pedal chair of the three-wheeled type having a forward seat or saddle for the operator, a body portion located to the rear of said saddle and having a seat for a passenger, and suitable propelling mechanism; the pedal chair as a whole being so designed as to secure maximum strength with a minimum weight of material and to provide a pedal chair in which the effort of the operator may be most advantageously applied to propel the same.

As will be hereafter understood, the chair has been designed for the purpose of being propelled or operated by one person, and consequently it is essential that the parts be constructed and so arranged that the weight of the operator, the weight of the machine itself, and the weight of the passenger, shall be properly distributed, and so as to secure the greatest amount of strength with a minimum amount of metal, for otherwise the machine will be of such weight as to be impractical, or, on the other hand, so light as to be incapable of withstanding the strain and usage to which it is subjected. After various experiments, I have devised and built a chair which fulfils the above requirements, the framework (which connects a steering wheel with the two rear driving wheels) consisting of but a small number of parts or elements, but arranged in a novel manner whereby to safely support the strains to be placed upon it, and so braced as to render it stiff and rigid.

lVith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the improved pedal chair illustrated in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described and claimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated: Figure 1 is a view illustrating my improved pedal chair in side elevation, the near rear wheel having been removed Fig. 2. is a view showing a portion of the framework thereof in plan; Fig. 3 is a view showing the elements shown in Figs. 2 and 1 upon a vertical transverse plane indicated by the line 83, Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure; Fig. 1 is a view showing the same elements upon a vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the line ll, Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in that figure; Fig. 5 is a view showing the rear portion of my improved pedal chair in plan, a portion of the seat being broken away to show a receptacle beneath the same, and Fig. (3 is a view taken upon a vertical transverse plane indicated by the line 6-6, F 1, looking toward the rear as indicated by the arrow in that figure.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 7 indicates the front or steering wheel and S the two rear or driving wheels of my improved pedal chair. The front wheel is supported between the arms of a fork 9 which extends through a head 10 and is rotatable in said head about an axis approaching a vertical by means of a suitable handle-bar 11 to thereby guidethe vehicle, in substantially the same way as in an ordinary bicycle.

The rear wheels are secured to the ends of a transverse rear axle 12 so that the pedal chair will be driven as said axle is rotated, and said axle and the head are connected and held in proper relation with one another by means of a suitable frame comprising a lower substantially horizontal reach member, the forward end of which is connected with a crank hanger 14 having a bearing for a crank shaft 39 provided at its free ends with two cranks 15 whereby the vehicle may be propelled, and the rear portion of which reach is bifurcated as best shown in Fig. 5 to provide two arms 16 shown as approximately parallel with one another and the rear ends of which arms are connected with the axle 12 adjacent the ends thereof in any appropriate manner. Said frame in addition includes upper and lower bars 17, 18, and an approximately vertical strut member 19, the ends of which bars are connected with the head 10 and crank hanger 14: and strut member 19 in the same way as in an ordinary bicycle. Finally the frame ineludes two inclined brace members 20, the upper ends of which are connected with the upper end of the strut member 19 and which brace members diverge as they extend downward, and the lower ends of which are connected one with each of the parallel sides or arms 16 of the reach member hereinbefore referred to and as best shown in Fig. 5.

The entire frame will be made from tubing in order to secure strength and lightness, and the various joints between the several members thereof will be reinforced and brazed in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

Supported from the rear axle 12 through and by means of suitable springs 21 of any appropriate form, but preferably of full elliptical form as shown, is a body 22 having side and back portions as best shown in Figs. 5 and G, the sides thereof being connected by a transverse floor 23, and the interior of the body being upholstered as shown at 25, 26 to provide a seat for a pas senger as shown in these figures. A receptacle 24; adapted to receive tools or other articles is provided beneath the floor 23 to which receptacle access may be had by removing the lower or seat portion 25 of the upholstering, as will be understood. It will be seen, referring to Fig. 6, that the sides of the body are spaced far enough apart to clear the parallel sides 16 of the bifurcated reach member, so that the body will be free to move vertically as the springs which sup port the same are compressed by the weight of a passenger occupying the seat of the body. The body portion is preferably equipped with a folding top 4.0 of any suitable form, the front of which is steadied by a strap or straps 41; and suitable curtains, one of which is shown at 27, may be provided to inclose the body and thereby protect the passenger from the weather, or afford him privacy. Finally, the body will ordinarily be provided with suitable mud guards a2 fitting over the wheels 8 as illustrated, and as is usual in vehicles.

Located adjacent the lower ends of the inclined braces 20 and secured at its ends in any way to the arms 16 of the bifurcated reach member 13 is a transverse plate or floor 28 which serves as a brace for the frame, also as a rest for the feet of the passenger and also as a support for brackets 29 secured in place upon its under surface; which brackets support a shaft 30, and upon which shaft are two sprocket wheels 31 rigidly connected with one another through a common hub rotatable upon the shaft aforesaid as a support. The crank shaft 39 supported in the bearing 14: as hereinbefore explained, is provided with a sprocket wheel 32, and 33 is a sprocket chain connecting said wheel with one of the sprocket wheels 31 above referred to. The other sprocket wheel 31 drives a second sprocket chain 3a which extends about a sprocket wheel 35 secured upon the rear axle l2 and through which rotary motion is communicated to said rear axle. A suitable guard 37 is commonly secured to the inclined brace members 20 to prevent contact with the sprocket chains and protect the passenger from mud, water, grease, etc., thrown off from; the chain or otherwise set in motion.

From the premises it will be obvious that my improved pedal chair may be operated by a person sitting upon the saddle 38 in much the same way as in an ordinary bicycle, and that the force exerted by the operator will be applied most effectively to the end in view; as the ordinary bicycle mechanism is well known to be ahighly eflicient mechanism for applying the force exerted by the rider in such a way as to trans port him over the ground. At the same time a passenger may occupy the body of the vehicle, and his position will be such that his weight is concentrated over the rear driving wheels, whereby they will be prevented from slipping, while at the same time the least possible additional burden will be imposed upon the operator of the vehicle.

It will be seen, finally, that the arrangement of the driving mechanism is such that a wide range in the ratio between the speed of rotation of the crank shaft and rear driving axle may be readily secured by varying the sizes of sprocket wheels 31 hereinbefore referred to.

Furthermore, it will be seen that with the peculiar construction and arrangement of the several parts as shown and above described, the employment of a platform transversely arranged and secured at its ends to the parallel arms of the reach bar, operates to materially brace and strengthen the frame and also effects a solid, rigid and convenient support for the mounting of the pair of sprockets, avoiding the use or em-. ployment of a single long chain extending from the sprocket on the crank hanger to the sprocket on the rear driving axle, the two inclined brace members also assisting in bracing and stiffening this bifurcated reach bar, and at the same time serving as a support or attachment for the shield or guard employed to prevent the soiling of the clothing of the passenger sitting in the rear thereof.

I am aware that chairs have been constructed consisting of a front steering wheel and a pair of rear driving wheels, to be operated by one person, and employing a seat located directly over the rear axle; also that chairs have been designed for operation by two persons, the body of the chair being located between the front and rear driving mechanism, and hence I make no claim to such, but

That I claim is A chair of the character described comprising a suitable frame having a crank hanger secured thereto, a front steering wheel mounted in said frame, a pair of rear wheels mounted on a driving axle carrying a sprocket wheel, a bifurcated reach member secured at its forward end to said crank hanger and the two arms thereof secured to said driving axle, brace rods secured at their upper ends to said frame and at their lower ends to said reach member, a platform secured at its ends to the arms of said reach member and provided with brackets supporting a shaft carrying a pair of sprockets, a chain passing around one of said pair of sprockets and around a sprocket secured to a shaft passing through said crank hanger, a second chain passing around the other of said pair of sprockets and around that on said driving axle, and a body mounted over said driving axle, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 14th day of January, A. D. 1914.

JOSE GARCIA LINDE.

Witnesses ANNA V. WALSH, GEORGE E. CooK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

